Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart is progressing in his return from thumb surgery, and could even return at the end of a lengthy first-round series.
Smart took part in shooting drills Sunday and said he expects to return by the second round at the latest.
“Today was the first day with the new splint on to actually get out here and do something. So the thumb felt well,” Smart said, via ESPN’s Chris Forsberg. “We’re on track for [a return in the] next three weeks, possibly Game 7 of the first round, [but] definitely second round. So we’re on the right path.”
This is more or less in line with reported expectations. Smart’s return would be a big boost to the Celtics, who are without Kyrie Irving due to injury too. They will, of course, need to survive the first round for it to matter.
